STATIONS OF THE CROSS
We will create an outdoor Stations of the Cross along our fence line on 8th St S. Each station depicts a different moment from Jesus’ journey toward the cross, along with scripture and prayer in Spanish and English.
The Stations will be available to walk, read, pray, and contemplate from Monday to Saturday of Holy Week (March 29-April 3), or you may view them online below. For more information about the project, watch this video by the artist, Scott Erickson. He has graciously permitted us use of the images online as well.
STATION 1
JESUS IS TEMPTED
Opening Prayer
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Scripture
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter.“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:36-41
Invitation
Lord, grant me your strength and wisdom, that I may seek to follow your will in all things.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me walk in your steps.
STATION 2
JESUS IS BETRAYED
Opening Prayer
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Scripture
He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. Matthew 26:42-50
Invitation
Lord, grant me the courage of my convictions, that my life may faithfully reflect the good news you bring.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me walk in your steps.
STATION 3
JESUS IS CONDEMNED
Opening Prayer
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Scripture
Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”
Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest.
At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them.“If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.”
Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”
They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.”
Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”
Luke 22:52-54, 66-71
Invitation
Lord, grant me your sense of righteousness that I may never cease to work to bring about the justice of the kingdom that you promised.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me walk in your steps.
STATION 4
JESUS IS MOCKED
Opening Prayer
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Scripture
Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.” John 19:1-3
Invitation
Lord, grant me patience in times of suffering that I may offer my life as a sacrifice of praise.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me walk in your steps.
STATION 5
JESUS IS GIVEN HIS CROSS
Opening Prayer
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Scripture
As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”
But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”
But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”
“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked.
“We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.
Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.
So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). John 19: 6, 15-17
Invitation
Lord, forgive my sins.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me walk in your steps.
STATION 6
JESUS FALLS
Opening Prayer
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Scripture
Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:23-25
Invitation
Lord, help me to lose my life for your sake.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me walk in your steps.
STATION 7
SIMON CARRIES JESUS' CROSS
Opening Prayer
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Scripture
A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.
Mark 15:21
Invitation
Lord, grant me to walk at your side as your servant and friend, and to join you in your work of healing the world.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me walk in your steps.
STATION 8
JESUS IS STRIPPED
Opening Prayer
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Scripture
They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. Matthew 27:28-30
Invitation
Jesus, heal my shame.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me walk in your steps.
STATION 9
JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS
Opening Prayer
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Scripture
When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Luke 23:33-34
Invitation
Lord, grant us merciful hearts, that we may bring your reconciliation and forgiveness to all.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me walk in your steps.
STATION 10
JESUS DIES
Opening Prayer
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Scripture
At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” Mark 15:33-34, 37-39
Invitation
Lord, please do not forsake me.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me walk in your steps.
STATION 11
JESUS IS BURIED
Opening Prayer
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Scripture
Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.
Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. John 19:38-42
Invitation
Lord, grant me your courage and compassion, that I may always provide for those in need.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me walk in your steps.